NEW MUSIC TO BE HERE FOR

Mondays are for defining your week’s #mood and no better way than creating a new playlist. You need to be keeping your fingers occupied after deleting all your socials to avoid Insecure or Game of Thrones spoilers, after all.

FLOWER BOY – TYLER, THE CREATOR

Infamy precedes Tyler, The Creator releases like a purse does Bob The Drag Queen, and the 46-minute “Flower Boy” was already sending wigs flying with the leak of the “I’ve been kissing white boys since 2004” lyric. “Flower Boy” presents a thoughtful and evolved version of Tyler that feels like a meditation, even at its most brazen. “Garden Shed” is a true standout, with guest vocals by Estelle, and lyrics that will stay on your mind for the longest. The vinyl will be released soon, meanwhile there are two gorgeous cover designs to pick from, one cassette-inspired design made by Tyler and one created by Michigan-born painter Eric White.

LUST FOR LIFE – LANA DEL REYAs someone who once grazed the hand of Lana Del Rey at a festival, I can vouch for the fact that this album represents the essence of her. On “Lust For Life”, the usual Americana love-torn bleakness of Lana’s universe is countered with bouts of unfiltered positivism and a soft political slant courtesy of Lana The Wiccan president-vanquisher. The feature-shy artist is working with her heroes and friends this time, from Stevie Nicks to Playboi Carti. It’s the Lana version of happy, “out of the black into the blue” (you’ll sob over “13 Beaches” though). If I’m not mistaken, the word ‘daddy’ doesn’t even come up once on the album, which may be the biggest shocker of all.

LIL UZI VERTWait, what’s the Lil Uzi Vert fandom called? Verties? Uzers? In any case, the fans were treated to 5 new tracks over the weekend, including a Young Thug collab, in anticipation of the “Luv is Rage 2” mixtape. They won’t feature on the upcoming release, so they’re purely tide-over material to blast at the summer cookout.

RASKIT – DIZZEE RASCALAfter 2014’s mixed reception for his “The Fifth” album, Dizzee Rascal seemed content to let the young kids take a stab at the grime crown and often do so successfully (Skepta’s 2016 debut “Konnichiwa” being a particular highlight). Three years on, Dizzee is going back to the beginning (Raskit is the name he used to record under in the early days), eschewing will.i.am features, and just focusing on giving us a great Dizzee experience.